HYOGO (TR) – Hyogo Prefectural Police have re-arrested a 77-year-old senior yakuza member and an accomplice for allegedly concealing millions of yen in “blood money” received as a reward for the 2007 assassination of a gang boss, reports the Kobe Shimbun (Aug. 31).
Noboru Sei, an executive of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi syndicate, and a 64-year-old unemployed man were served fresh arrest warrants on Monday for violating the Organized Crime Punishment Law by hiding criminal proceeds.
Sei is accused of acting as the on-site commander during the fatal stabbing of the 65-year-old boss of the Tasaburo-ikka — a faction of the designated Yamaguchi-gumi — in Kobe City in 2007. Following the hit, Sei spent nearly 18 years on the run as a fugitive before finally being captured last October. He has already been indicted on charges including organized murder.
According to police, the two suspects conspired to stash a total of 14 million yen at the accomplice’s residence. Investigators say this cash stockpile included 1.6 million yen in “success rewards” paid out by bosses within the Yamaguchi-gumi and Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi networks.
Furthermore, police suspect Sei kept approximately 11.97 million yen hidden at his own home, which included a separate 3.5 million yen assassination reward received from another individual.
The 64-year-old accomplice is currently standing trial on related charges. Police have not disclosed whether either man has admitted to the latest allegations regarding the hidden funds.
